Twenty minutes later even after all the introductions and pleasantries with Doris, Demi still couldn't believe her eyes that Aaron was there. He was so grown up she wasn't even sure how much of the guy she used to know was still around. Two years was a long time to be distant from someones life. She just hoped there wasn't too much distance that they couldn't come back from. However as she watched him with laugh and joke around with Doris she knew it wasn't going to be like that. She had been eighteen when her parents had deposited her in this place. Aaron himself had just turned twenty. Now she was that twenty year old, excited to start living and he was twenty-two doing god-knows-what with his life out there. Her stomach sunk at the idea of facing a normal life now. Here at the center was normality for her. Life on a West Coast city was completely out of orbit from that normalcy. What was she going to do for a living? How was she going to fit in, make friends out there. She knew how ridiculous her questions would sound if voiced aloud but Demi couldn't help but wonder.

She had led a solitary clean life, granted amongst quite an insane bunch. Everyday people, the thought scared her. They had all adapted to life. Others her age had experienced the everyday challenges and developed as people. She had been here trying to rid herself of the poisonous thoughts that plagued her. She didn't know the first thing about being your generic everyday young woman.

"Dems?...you ready?"Aarons voice brought her back to the here and now.

Eyes searching to meet his she smiled.

"Yes definitely"Aaron bent and picked up her suitcase.

Pecking Doris politely on the cheek before leaving her to say her goodbyes. Hugging the material of her sweatshirt to her, Demi turned to the older woman. As much as she never thought she would, she was going to miss her.

"Well my dear good luck to you. I'm sure you'll be fine, as right as rain in no time. Just promise you'll make a phonecall every now and then."

The woman regarded her with forlorn aged eyes.

"Or at least send a letter."

Smiling at the kindness she'd received from Doris not just today, but for the whole two years, Demi pulled her into a hug.

"I promise Doris, I promise."

With one last wave, Demi jumped into the Range Rover next to Aaron, eyes never lingering from the center until it had faded from sight in her side mirror.

Shifting around to get comfortable she bit her lip knowing the next question from them would be hard to listen to an answer for.

"So, how's...um...I mean, mom and dad? Are they doing ok."

Momentarily Aaron's eyes found hers in the rearview mirror, before they eyed the road once more. She could tell he was trying to choose the right words.

"They were good. Took some time for everything to sink in but they managed to work through whatever was on their minds."

He shrugged as he spoke. From past experiences Demi knew this meant he wasn't 100% sure of what he had spoken.

"Y'know as much as you may believe it. They didn't hate you. Not fully at least."

His words cut like a dagger into her chest. How could that be? The sincerity in his voice made her want to believe him however.

"I guess with me out from under their feet, it was easier to pretend they didn't."

She couldn't help how bitter that came out sounding. Pent up frustrations had that effect.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be taking this out on you. It's not your fault."

She glanced up regretfully at him.

"What about you? What have you been up to since I saw you last? I feel like you've grown way too fast."

A rough chuckle escaped him as the Range sped past trees and other landscape. She was relieved to feel the tension ease right back off.

"Well yes kid, that would be because I have grown quite a bit since then. Can't stay the same forever."

"I know, I know" she grinned. "I just didn't exactly expect..."

Her hands gestured at his arms and torso"...all of this. What, have you been living at the gym to achieve this look?"

A flicker of something she didn't understand passed over his face before his normal gaze resumed.

"Something like that I guess. C'mon, I'm not the only one who's changed. Have you seen yourself? I don't think I've ever seen you look so healthy and full of life in a long, long time. If it wasn't for that hair of yours I might not have recognised my own sister."

She could feel the smile not only on her face but inside her. She did feel full of life. Right now. Maybe that was to do with the way she was heading home, under a blue sky, her brother along too. She hadn't thought this day would come. Even if something did seem rough around the edges about it all.

"I guess we've all changed. What about Cy..."

"Cyan? She...is her usual self. Follows no ones rule but her own."

Demi nodded at his words, yes her sister had always possessed that passionate ability to be able to hold her own whenever she wanted.

"She's gotta be what? Twenty-three now?"

It was hard to absorb the reality of how much they'd all grown in two years.

"Twenty-four actually. She's getting old."

Demi chuckled softly. Cyan wouldn't like the thought of that very much.

They fell into a comfortable silence as Aaron drove them along. She let her eyes take in the view as it sped past outside her window. Tall green pine trees melted together into a blur as the passed. Thoughts of all the possibilities open to her danced in her head, making her smile. Sure she'd have to rely on Aaron to help her out for a while but it couldn't be too long before she'd be on her feet. She hoped it would be sooner rather than later. Leaving her head fall back against the headrest, she could feel herself drifting off to sleep. Trying to fight is she eventually gave up and let it happen.

With a yawn, Demi's eyes blinked open to find her forehead pressed against the cool glass of the window. Sitting up properly she tried to focus in on her surroundings. Beside her Aaron was still casually slouched, cruising the Range Rover along at a steady pace. The beat of an Eminem song vibrating through the car lightly. From what she could make of outside, they had reached a more southern point of the country. The sun was beating down and it must be in extreme heat outside. Luckily for them the car had a fivestar AC system built into it.

"Sorry I fell asleep." She yawned.

Her eyes caught Aaron's grin.

"It's not a problem. It's a long trek I know."

"So where exactly are we right now?"

Tucking her feet up under her Demi pulled at the seatbelt that was digging into her neck.

"We are deep in Texas at the moment. We should be coming up to a small town in a few minutes. I might make a quick stop. Do you need to use the bathroom?"

Now that he mentioned it, Demi could feel the slight pressure on her bladder. Being asleep had obviously taken her mind off that fact.

"Yeah actually. Um..do you have change on you? I mean all my money is stuffed back in the suitcase. I just, could I borrow a dollar or two for something to eat?"

"Sure yeah, don't worry about it."

A couple of minutes later the trees began to thin out and the more desert landscape she knew of Texas faded in. In the distance you could just make out one or two buildings. As the car approached them something seemed to make Aaron tense up. She decided it was best if she didn't try to get answer out of him. Although it worried her slightly as she noticed how white his knuckles had gone where he gripped the steering wheel. Her eyes went to his face where his own dark pair seemed to be scanning the road ahead, back and forth. Biting down on her lip she wondered what could be bothering him this sound of the cars simmered down as Aaron pulled into a gas station, one of only three buildings in the remote town-of-sorts. The other two being a rundown diner and a water tower. Demi's eyebrow raised as she tried to imagine living in a place like this. What did people do for fun? Killing the engine completely Aaron turned to her.

"Alright, I'll grab some refreshments or whatever inside, if you want to hit the bathroom. It's just there." His hand pointed and Demi noticed the door with a clearly marked toilet sign. Nodding she went to get out of the car but Aaron's hand stopped her.

"Do me a favour, please, when you're done get straight back in the car. I'll only be a few minutes but...if I'm not out just lock the door until I do."

Brow furrowing in puzzlement she opened her mouth to ask why but he cut her off.

"Please just agree, I just, I'm trying to be careful about where we are. It doesn't look too friendly. Ok?"

His eyes seemed to be pleading with her so Demi nodded.

"Ok I will. Just make sure to get chocolate."

With a grin she hopped out of the Range, carrying her rucksack with her. As she passed Aaron he nodded in regards their conversation.

"I'll be back in a few."

She made her way to the restroom, closing the door as she saw him enter the store's one. Clicking the lock into place she looked around, for such a rundown looking place, the bathroom was actually sanitary. Placing her rucksack onto the counter that held the sink she shimmied down her jeans and sat onto the toilet bowl. Tapping her fingers against her thigh she contemplated why Aaron was so touchy about the place. It wasn't as if they were in danger. It was just a rest-stop. Then again she could understand it in one sense. If she was on her own this wouldn't be her first choice of places to stop.

Flushing after her, she washed her hands and took a few seconds to look at her reflection in the mirror. She looked ok, a little tired but then again she had been asleep and her contacts were agitating her eyes. Splashing some cold water against her face to wake her up she deemed it time to head back to the car. Soon enough she'd have to face her parents and that thought daunted her more than anything. But she had Aaron. That was the comforting part of it all. Sighing she unlocked the door and stepped out into the Texan sunshine for the second time.

"Hey there darlin' you lost or something?"